At a time when the young generation is facing the brunt of unemployment, the troops of 2 Mountain Division operating in upper Assam have taken a lead to guide them. They have launched a novel scheme of 'earn and learn' in Naharkatiya village of Dibrugarh district.

Maitri, an Army vocational training centre, trains talented and needy girls in socks knitting at South Bank army camp near Naharkatiya village. During the inaugral ceremony of the centre, Commander of a Mountain Brigade, Brig AK Gulati encouraged the girls from poor economic background to learn skills which would help them in earning. Consequently, ehthusiastic girls from neighbouring villages volunteered in large numbers to join the vocational training centre where they would be imparted training by qualified professionals.

In this unique venture, other than free training, the Army has planned to set up socks knitting centres under Samaritan projects which would subsequently be handed over to the villagers for further management. As an enterprising profit scheme, the Army has also assured the villagers to purchase their product.

This vocational centre is one of the many welfare and self-help schemes initiated by the troops of 2 Mountain Division deployed in Dibrugarh district. In addition to the construction of the Sasoni Merbil High School and Kumarigaon High School buildings, under Samaritan, Army has also provided a computer laboratory for Baruahola High School in Dibrugarh district of upper Assam.

Lt Gen TJS Gill, Director General of Ordnance Services and senior Colonel Commandant of AOC extended felicitations to all ranks of Ordnance for their hard work and endeavour made in equipping troops for operation Parakram. Addressing the Ordnance troops in Guwahati, Gen Gill reiterated that the present situation in the country needs hard work and dedication by all ordnance functionaries to provide uninterrupted logistic support of ammunition, equipment and general stores to the Army. He exhorted all ranks to strive hard to meet the requirements.

Gen Gill also said that during his visit to North East, he interacted with users directly and received only kudos for the logistics support being provided by Ordnance Depots and functionaries.

The Jitra Regiment of Gajraj Artillery Brigade organised a medical-cum-veterinary aid camp at Maibong, NC Hills district. A total of 3000 people attended the camp.

A team of civil and Army doctors provided specialised medical care in the fields of paediatrics, gynaecology, dentistry and surgery. Free medicines worth over Rs 70,000 were distributed to the ailing and sick. The camp was inaugurated by Brig DS Yadav, Commander, Gajraj Artillery Brigade.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr SI Hussein lauded the efforts of Jitra Regiment for organising the camp. The Army veterinary team used the occasion for providing necessary services and gave the villagers some guidelines for improving the health status of animals.

The camp emphasised the need for improvement in existing health conditions apart from the need for creating health awareness and adoption of small family norms among the local people. A special anti- malaria drive was also organised on the occasion.

Charwa Gunners, deployed under 2 Mountain Artillery Brigade have been undertaking counter-insurgency operations in Assam. Within six months, the unit had apprehended sixteen insurgents and captured a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives.

Besides the strenuous task of counter-insurgency operations, the unit has launched a large number of civic action projects under operation Samaritan for improving the quality of life of the local villagers. Under the project ‘Health For All’, a free medical camp was organised at Kohara near Kaziranga National Park. Brig HS Sandhu, Commander, 2 Mountain Artillery Brigade inaugurated the medical camp. About 2000 patients including women and children from nearby villages were examined by doctors. The camp included a dental check-up apart from diagnosis of regular ailments like malaria, typhoid etc. A large number of doctors and para medical staff rendered their service in the camp. The villagers lauded the efforts of Army and requested to organise such camps frequently.

With a view to providing education for all, Charwa Gunners opened a nursery school for the weaker sections of the society and children of insurgency-affected families. As a sequel to the operation Samaritan projects being conducted by the 2 Mountain Division, Charwa Gunners established a computer centre at Adarsh Hindi Vidyalaya, Mariani. The project was undertaken with an aim to providing modern system of education in the remote areas. Brig HS Sandhu, Commander, 2 Mountain Artillery Brigade inaugurated the computer centre.

In addition to these, the regiment also undertook a large number of anti-poaching operations near the world famous Kaziranga National Park. The Army also took action against the illegal woodcutting to ensure that the flora and fauna is not damaged by the anti-social elements. The unit also organised visits for the children from local schools.

With the aim of generating scientific and creative thinking among students, Signal Regiment of a Mountain Division operating in Lower Assam established a science laboratory at Premada Sivanath Bidyapith in Chepti village of Nalbari district, Assam. Col Sarbjit Singh, Commanding Officer, Signal Regiment inaugurated the laboratory. Officials of district administration, educational institutions and eminent citizens of the Area graced the occasion.

Premada Sivanath Bidyapith, located on the outskirts of Rangiya town was established in 1979. The school which has a strength of about 350 students lacked adequate infrastructure facilities. The ever vigilant Red Horns Signal Regiment stepped in and undertook to develop these facilities under the ongoing operation Samaritan project by the army in the state.

The laboratory has separate sections and facilities for conducting experiments in physics, chemistry and biology and is provided with sufficient number of scientific instruments.

To maintain hygenic conditions and pollution free environment in the school, Red Horns Signallers also constructed toilets for both boys and girls within school premises under a separate project.

Speaking on the occasion, Col Sarbjit Singh emphasised the need for students to take more interest in innovation, since it is a great contributor to progress and well-being of the society. Paying tributes to the rich cultural heritage of Assam, Col Sarbjit thanked the villagers for their whole-hearted co-operation in defeating the nefarious designs of the militants. He further said that Army has the best interest of the country in mind and the Red Horns Division always has the best interest of Assam in mind.

Later, the Colonel presented books to Premada Sivanath Bidyapith and handed over the science laboratory to Mr Parashmani Sarma, Headmaster of the school.

Corps of Signals is responsible for military communication and it is its business to convey information within the Army. 4 Corps Engineering Signal Regiment has started a golden era in defence communication field in the eastern sector by establishing its optical node recently.

Optical node is a very modern and well-equipped communication system in which a thin fibre cable is used and a number of channels may be extracted from a single cable without any difficulty. If there is any interruption or fault in the system, it can easily be detected and cleared at once by its OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) machine. It does not get affected by lightning, thunder, atomic radiation etc. Fortyeight computers may be connected with this system and any Intranet centre can be communicated within seconds by this system. In short, through establishment of this optical node, 4 Corps Engineering Signal Regiment can provide a safe, secure and flawless communication in the eastern sector.

In Assam, the people of Jokai area comprising 25 villages and the fearless men of 15 Sikh Li celebrated some festive moments together.

The rich tapestry of Indian dance, music and folklore was made more colourful and intricate by the sublime amalgamation of the cultures of the eastern and northern India. Bihu and Bhangra are dances of celebration of vibrant life, with foot-tapping rhythms and drums. It is as if they are telling you that happiness does not lie in the materialism and rat-race of the cities, but in the simple pleasures of rural life, where joy and laughter rule the people's hearts.

The spirited dancers mesmerised the audience with their performance. They let go of all their inhibitions, to embrace the whole world in the bond of love and friendship.

The fusion of Bhangra and Bihu was a unique moment, breaking the ice and bringing the Army closer to the people. The enthusiastic and spontaneous response by the local people was heart-warming who are eager to cherish the memorable moments of this occasion.